Heather Burning Banned on Moors in Northern England

Three large landowners have confirmed that tenants on more than 30 major tracts of land in northern England are no longer allowed to burn heather routinely.

The three landowners are Yorkshire Water, United Utilities and the National Trust. Yorkshire Water has written into its lease a presumption against burning as a land management technique while United Utilities is altering its leases to shorter terms and is expected to review grouse-shooting leases. Three estates overseen by the National Trust have announced tenants are no longer allowed to conduct routine burning.

Research has found that the controversial practice of burning grouse moors degrades peatland habitat, releases greenhouse gases, reduces biodiversity and increases flood risk.